I glanced at Adriel now, and the corner of his lip quirked in a smile. I returned it.
“Look at you, grinning at your man while you’re on the clock,” Jess mumbled, elbowing me playfully.
“Shut up.” I rolled my eyes. “And about that… I’m probably gonna talk to Lewis about it tonight.”
“About what?” Jess asked, genuinely surprised.
“I’m giving him my notice,” I replied. “I’m gonna start a new career, something I actually like.”
Jess looked like she was experiencing fifty emotions at once. “What!”
“Yeah,” I said. “I mean, this is a good job and everything, no offense, but I don’t want to work here forever.”
“Oh my god, please tell me we’re still gonna be able to see each other,” she cried, grabbing my shoulders. “I don’t want to lose you to the void.”
I laughed and touched her hands. “I’m not going anywhere. I still live around here, I just won’tworkhere.”
Jess pouted, which turned into a sympathetic smile. “Okay. As long as you don’t forget about me.”
“Never,” I promised.
Jess’s eyes flashed as she quickly eyed me up and down. “While we’re spilling secrets… Don’t you think there’s another one you want to tell me about?”
“Huh?”
She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Not to call you out or anything, but you’re getting a bit of a belly.”
I gasped. “What?”
“I mean, it’s totally fine if you’renotpregnant, but since I know you and that sexy alphaaredefinitely banging, then I thought it was safe to assume - “
“Am I really showing already?” I demanded, looking down at myself. Maybe if I was honest, I saw a tiny bit of swelling.
“I know you too well,” Jess said with a laugh. “But yeah, I can totally tell.” Then she gasped, as if the realization dawned on her a bit late. “Oh my god, you’re totally pregnant.”
I sighed. “Yes, you figured it out. Congratulations.”
She squealed and hugged me. “No, congratulations toyou!You’re gonna have a baby, Caleb!”
I couldn’t help but grin at her infectious joy. “Yeah, I am.”
Jess stood up and looked at Adriel while motioning at me. “He’s pregnant! He’s gonna have a baby!”
Adriel chuckled. “Yes, he is. We’re all very excited.”
Jess nearly knocked all the items off the shelf in her enthusiasm. “Do you have names picked out? When are you due? Do you have a little nursery?”
“What’s going on out here?” Lewis’s sharp voice cut through the store as he stormed out from the back. “Why does it sound like you two are goofing off instead of working?”
Jess and I straightened up.
“We are working,” Jess replied. “Caleb just told me some exciting news, is all.”
“Is that right?” Lewis said sarcastically.
At the same time, Adriel narrowed his eyes into a ferocious glare that burned into the back of Lewis’s head. He must have noticed because he hesitated and risked a glance over his shoulder.
“Ah, Mr. Tenebrae,” Lewis said in a meek voice. “It’s good to see you, as always.”
